A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 02 eBook

Thus, during a long period of fifty-two years, this
patriotic prince devoted almost his whole attention,
and the ample revenues which he enjoyed as Duke of
Viseo end grand master of the military order of Christ,
in extending the maritime knowledge, and consequently
the commercial prosperity of his country. The
incidents of the last seven years of the life of this
distinguished prince, are involved in uncertainty,
and we know very little with regard to the progress
of his maritime discoveries from 1456, the date of
the second of the voyages of Cada Mosto, of which
we propose to give a separate account, till the year
of his death, 1463. From the year 1412, when
he began his operations, at which time he could scarcely
exceed fifteen years of age, the navigators who had
been formed under his auspices and direction, and
often instructed by himself in the theory of navigation
and cosmography, gradually explored the western coast
of Africa, from Cape Nam or Non, in lat. 28 deg. 15’,
certainly to Rio Grande, in lat. 11 deg. N. or
rather to Rio de Nuno, not quite a degree farther
south; but it is highly probable that the southern
limit of discovery in his time extended to Cabo Verga,
in lat. 10 deg. N. the northern boundary of the
country usually called the Sierra Liona, or the Ridge
of Lions, perhaps to the gulf of Mitomba, or bay of
Sierra Liona, in lat. 8 deg. 30’ N. an extent
of 29 deg. 15’ of latitude, or 1185 nautical
miles; a mere nothing certainly when compared with
modern navigation, but a wonderful effort in the infancy
of the science, when even coasting voyages of any
extent along well known shores, and in frequented seas,
were looked upon as considerable efforts. No
brilliant discovery, indeed, rewarded the perseverance
of Don Henry, and the courage of his servants; but
an indestructible foundation of useful knowledge was
laid, for overthrowing the ignorant prejudices of
the age, and by which, not long afterwards, his plans
were perfected by completing the circumnavigation of
Africa, and by the discovery of the New World.
Dr Vincent, the learned editor and commentator of
the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, is disposed to
limit the discoveries of Don Henry to Cape Verd[2],
but Ramusio believed that the Island of St Thomas
was settled in his time; and the ingenious translator
of the Lusiad of Camoens is of opinion that some of
his commanders passed beyond the equator[3].
According to Mickle, it was the custom of his navigators
to leave his motto, Talent de bien faire, wherever
they came; and in 1525 Loaya, a Spanish captain, found
that device carved on the bark of a tree in the island
of St Matthew, or Anabon, in the second degree
of southern latitude. But this proof is quite
inconclusive, as the navigators long reared in the
school of this great prince might naturally enough
continue his impress upon the countries they visited,
even after his lamented death.